Jun 11, 2026
Korach | 5786 | For the Lord will not forsake His people, by Rav Eli Weber
I Shmuel 11: 14-15 - 12:1-22
Shmuel HaNavi's farewell speech, the Haftara for Parashat Korach, poses a timeless question: does appointing a human king strengthen or weaken a nation's relationship with God? Rav Weber argues that the deeper...
Jun 10, 2026
Birkat Chatanim | More (or perhaps less) Than You Thought... by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
We are all familiar with ברכת חתנים, although generally in its more common referent - "Sheva Berakhot". We examine the sources and the divided practice of Bavel vs. Eretz Yisrael regarding how many Berakhot are said - and...
Jun 3, 2026
Shelach | The Children of Lot, The "Sin of the Spies" and Tish'a b'Av by Yitzchak Etshalom
Why did Chazal anchor the tragic history of Tish'a b'Av in the events of this week's Parasha (Parashat Shelach)?
Chazal famously anchor the tragedies of ט' באב in the "חטא המרגלים" - which was really the sin of those...
May 28, 2026
Beha'alotekha | Sing and rejoice, o daughter of Zion, by Rav Eli Weber
How do we recover from destruction? Zekharia 2:14 - 4:7
May 27, 2026
Naso | Shimson the Nazirite... Indeed? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
The annunciation of Shimshon's birth (Shoftim 13) carries several anomalies; indeed, his own life reflects an unusual form of Nezirut, one which is not bound by the most severe violation of Nezirut (contact with the dead) - while his parents are the...